What is Slipper Clutch in Bike?
People also know it as a back-torque limiter. It is indeed a special type of clutch. During rapid downshifts, it decreases the impact of the engine braking.
An important component of high-performance bikes, a slipper clutch lets the rear wheel spin freely. It’s mainly during the time when sudden downshifts occur. The clutch plates slip against each other and thus it ensures controlled slippage. Hence, the wheel doesn’t get locked and the rider doesn’t lose control. It’s responsible for smoothly engaging and disengaging the clutch. The bike enjoys less damage to the transmission and other parts of the bike.
How does a slipper clutch work in a bike?
When the engine brake is activated, the crankshaft and clutch turn faster than the back wheel. The normal clutch is unable to smoothly maintain control. Because the real wheel actually slows down due to the difference in speed. It could cause skidding as well as loss of traction. The mechanism of the slipper clutch differs. When the rear wheel slows down, the slipper clutch’s pressure also goes down. Thus they slip against each other. As a result, the amount of torque that was to be transmitted to the rear wheel decreased. Hence, no locking up of the wheels.
Types of Slipper Clutch
Slipper clutches can be of 3 different types. The sorts are Mechanical, Hydraulic, and Electromagnetic.
Mechanical Slipper Clutch: A system of ramps and balls is used to obtain the slip.
Hydraulic Slipper Clutch: In this sort of clutch, you will find the utilization of a hydraulic piston to control the pressure on the clutch plates.
Electromagnetic Slipper Clutch: There is an electromagnetic coil to control the pressure.
Do you really need a slipper clutch?
A slipper clutch is useful in several ways. Those include:
- Stops the locking up of the back wheel. Improved control is ensured by it.
What are the Benefits of a Slipper Clutch?
What are the Disadvantages of a Slipper Clutch?
